Connection of an add/drop node

ABSTRACT

An add/drop node of an optical WDN-network which has two fiber paths for light of a plurality of channels propagating in opposite directions comprises two add/drop modules ( 231, 23   r ) for each of the channels. All the modules are identically constructed. Each module comprises an add device ( 251, 25   r ) for adding light to one of the paths and a drop device ( 27   r   , 271 ) for deflecting a portion of light from a second one of the paths. A module comprises a house ( 41 ) enclosing the add device and the drop device. A first fixed connector ( 53, 73 ) is attached to the house for connection in the first path and to a an optical fiber ( 45, 65 ) which extends freely from the house and has a first free connector ( 43, 63 ) at its free end to be attached to the fixed connector of a neighbouring add/drop module for continuing the first path through the considered add/drop module to the neighbouring module. In the same way a second fixed connector is attached to the house for connection in the second path and to a second optical fiber which extends freely from the house and has a second free connector at its free end to be attached to the fixed second connector of a neighbouring add/drop module for continuing the second path through the considered add/drop module to the neighbouring module.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an add/drop node of an optical WDM-network, in particular to the connection of an add/drop node to two paths of the network carrying light in opposite directions, and to a network including such an add/drop node.

BACKGROUND

Optical networks using WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing) are now proposed to be built more and more. In such networks a plurality of add/drop nodes are connected and simple devices should be provided for connecting the nodes to the network. For example, when an existing node is expanded to be capable of receiving and transmitting in another wavelength band the manual work required therefor should be minimized. An optical network having add/drop nodes is for example disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,754,545.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide an add/drop node for an optical WDM-network having a simple way of connecting the node to circulating fiber paths of the network.

It is another object of the invention to provide an optical WDM-network having an add/drop node built to allow a simple way of connecting the node to parallel fiber paths of the network.

Thus generally, an add/drop node is intended to be connected in an optical WDM-network. The network has two parallel fiber paths allowing light of a plurality of wavelength channels to propagate in opposite directions. The add/drop node comprises two add/drop modules for each of the channels. All the modules are identically constructed and most of their connections are very similar to each other allowing a simple mounting and connection of the components of the node and also a simple rearrangement for changing wavelength channels and for adding/deleting wavelength channels used in the network. Each module comprises an add device for adding light to a first one of the paths and a drop device for deflecting a portion of light from a second one of the paths. The add device and the drop device of a module are enclosed by comprises a house, the houses of the modules being placed in a single row, at the sides of each other and for instance mounted in a rack. A first fixed connector is attached to the house of a module for connection in the first path and to a an optical fiber which extends freely from the house and has a first free connector at its free end to be attached to the fixed connector of a neighbouring add/drop module for continuing the first path through the considered add/drop module to the neighbouring module. In the same way a second fixed connector is attached to the house for connection in the second path and to a second optical fiber which extends freely from the house and has a second free connector at its free end to be attached to the fixed second connector of a neighbouring add/drop module for continuing the second path through the considered add/drop module to the neighbouring module,

More particularly, in the add/drop node two add/drop modules are provided for each of the channels of light propagating in the network. Each add/drop module has an add device or light combiner for adding light to one of the two optical fiber paths and it has also a drop device for deflecting a portion of light from the other optical fiber path. Furthermore, all the add/drop modules have the same construction. The add/drop modules can then be arranged in two sets, so that the add/drop modules of a first set have their add devices connected in one fiber path and their drop devices connected in the other fiber path. Also, the add/drop modules of the second set then have their add devices connected in the other fiber path and their drop devices connected in said one fiber path.

In at least each of the two sets the add/drop modules are placed at the sides of each other and then inner modules and two end modules are obtained in each set. For two adjacent or neighbouring add/drop modules of a set an output of the add device in a first one of the two adjacent add/drop modules can be connected to an input of the add device in a second one of the two adjacent add/drop modules. In the same way, for two adjacent add/drop modules an output of the drop device in a first one of the two adjacent add/drop modules can be connected to an input of the drop device in a second one of the two adjacent add/drop modules. For one of the end add/drop modules comprised in a first set its drop device can have an output connected to an input of the add device of one of the two end add/drop modules in the other, second set. Similarly, for said one end add/drop module of the second set its drop device can have an output connected to an input of the add device of said one end add/drop module in the first set.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of a non-limiting embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an optical network having a ring architecture and a hub node and four client nodes,

FIG. 2 is a schematic picture of the connection lines of an add/drop module used in the nodes of the network,

FIG. 3 is a view from the side of the inside of a house of an add/drop module,

FIG. 4 is a front view of a plurality of add/drop modules mounted in a rack,

FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing the connections of add/drop modules of the nodes,

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing in a somewhat more realistic way the connections of add/drop modules of the nodes, and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the inside of a house of an add/drop module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIG. 1 a block diagram of an optical fiber WDM-network having a ring configuration is shown. Thus two optical fiber paths 1 e, 1 w pass in a basically uninterrupted way all around the network, one fiber path 1 e carrying light propagating in the east direction and the other fiber path 1 w carrying light propagating in the west direction.

The network includes a hub node 2 and in the embodiment shown four client nodes 3, called Client 1, 2, 3 and 4, the nodes being connected to the two basic fiber paths 1 e, 1 w for adding and dropping light from the fibers. A client node n receives and transmits information in a narrow wavelength band, also called channel, around a single wavelength λ_(n), n=1, 2, . . . The hub node 2 can receive and transmit information in all channels, i.e. on all wavelengths λ_(n), n=1, 2, . . . For each client node 3, the hub node 2 is connected to an electrical client portion 5. Such an electrical client portion 5 comprises an electrooptic converter or optical transmitter 7 converting electrical signals to optical signals and an optoelectric converter or optical receiver 9 for receiving optical signals converting the received signals to electrical signals. The electrical client portion 5 is through optical fibers connected to an optical client portion 11 in the hub node 2. The optical client portion 11 has optical connectors for receiving the optical fibers extending from the respective electrical client portion.

The optical client portion 11 comprises an optical receiver-transmitter combination 13, 15 for transmission, the receiver 13 of the combination receiving the light signal from the transmitter 7 of the electrical client portion 5 providing its output signal to the transmitter 15 of the pair, which provides a well-defined light signal in the narrow wavelength band used for the respective client. The optical transmitter 15 is coupled to an optical connector for providing its output signal on an optical fiber to add/drop modules as will be described hereinafter.

The optical client portion 11 also comprises an optical receiver-transmitter combination for receiving, the combination comprising two optical receivers 17 e, 17 w connected to receive light from the add/drop modules through optical fibers and optical connectors, one receiver 17 e being used for receiving light propagating in the network, in the appropriate fiber, in an east direction and another receiver 17 w being used for receiving light propagating in the west direction in the ring network. The outputs of the two optical receivers 17 e, 17 w are connected to inputs of a combining element or optical multiplexer 19 which combines the received signals to provide them to a transmitter 21, the output terminal of which is through the respective connector and a fiber length connected to the receiver 9 in the electrical client portion 5.

Furthermore, the hub node 2 includes a plurality of add/drop modules 231, 23 r, one pair of such add/drop modules being provided for each client node 3 in the network. In such a pair one module 231 is adapted to transmit in a left direction from the hub node and to receive from the same left direction. The other module 23 r of a pair is adapted to transmit in and to receive from the right direction from the hub node. Each add/drop module is connected in the two ring-shaped fiber paths 1 e, 1 w of the network. A left add/drop module 231 comprises one add device 251 connected in the fiber ring path 1 w and one drop device 271 connected in the other fiber ring path 1 e. The add device 251 is through fiber pieces, a 50/50 splitting coupler 29 (only one is shown in the drawing) and the respective connector connected to the transmitter 15 in the optical client portion 11 for the appropriate client node. The drop device 271 is through a fiber and the respective connector connected to the receiver 17 e in the optical client portion 11 for the same client node.

In the same way, the right add/drop module 23 r in the pair comprises one add device 25 r connected in the fiber ring path 1 e and one drop device 27 r connected in the other fiber ring path 1 w. The add device 25 r is through fiber pieces, the respective splitting coupler 29 and the respective connector connected to the transmitter 15 in the optical client portion 11 for the client node. The drop device 27 r is through a fiber and the respective connector connected to the receiver 17 w in the optical client portion 11 for the client node.

The add devices 251, 25 r contain some coupling or combining element and if required a notch filter blocking light of the wavelength band or channel for which the add/drop module is designed. The optional filter will then stop only light of said wavelength band propagating in the respective fiber ring path 1 w, 1 e before light of the same wavelength band is added in the combining element. The drop devices 271, 27 r contain in the same way some splitting and filtering element for tapping off only light of the wavelength band or channel for which the add/drop module is designed.

It appears that all add/drop nodes 231, 23 r have the same basic design and functions and can thus all be given the same physical shape as will be discussed hereinafter.

The two fiber ring paths 1 e, 1 w are connected to the hub node 2 on a left side of the hub node and on a right side of the node. At each such side a monitor module 311, 31 r can be arranged which is thus connected in the two ring paths. A monitor module 311, 31 r comprises an add coupler 331, 33 r for adding e.g. some control signal and a tap 351, 35 r for tapping off some small portion of the incoming light power, e.g. 1%.

The schematic diagram of FIG. 2 illustrates the functions of an add/drop module 231, 23 r. The module comprises a house indicated at 41. Light from one 1 e of two ring paths of the network enters the module at a connector 43 attached to a fiber piece 45 extending loosely outside the house 41. The fiber piece 45 has a thick protective sleeve and is inside the house at 47 welded to an end of an optical fiber 49 having a standard thin protective sleeve. The optical fiber piece 49 is at its opposite end connected to one of the two inputs of the add device 251, 25 r. The output of the add device is connected to a fiber piece 51, which in turn is connected to a connector 53 attached to the house 41. The connector 53 should be connected in the same ring path 1 e as the input connector 43. The other input of the add device is through a fiber piece 55 connected a connector 57 attached to the house 41. The connector 43 thus receives light from the ring path 1 e to make it continue to the fiber 45, through the weld 47, the fiber piece 49, the add device 251, 25 r, the fiber piece 51 to the connector 53. The output connector 53 lets the light continue along the ring path 1 e. Light from an optical client portion 11 enters the module at the connector 57, continues through the fiber 55 to the add device 251, 25 r, in which the light is added to that propagating along the ring path 1 e.

Furthermore, in the module 231, 23 r there is a set of connected fiber pieces, which is parallel to that described and is connected in the other ring path 1 w of the network but in which instead of the add device 25 r, 251 the drop device 271, 27 r is connected. Thus a connector 63 is to be connected to the other ring path and is attached to an end of a well protected fiber piece 65 extending partly outside the house 41, the other end being connected through a weld 67 to a standard fiber piece 69. This fiber piece is in turn connected to one of the two outputs of the drop device 271, 27 r. The input of the drop device is connected to fiber piece 71 which receives light from a connector 73 attached to the house 41. The connector 73 should be connected in the respective ring path 1 w. The other output of the drop device 271, 27 r is connected to an end of a fiber piece 75 which has its other end connected to a connector 77 attached to the house 41. This connector is through a fiber attached to a respective receiver 17 w (17 e) in the optical client portion 11. Light from the ring path 1 w enters the module at the connector 73, continues through the fiber 71, the drop device 271, 27 r, the fiber 69, the weld 67, the thick fiber 65 to the loose connector 63, which in turn is connected in the respective ring path 1 w of the network. Some light of a specific wavelength band is tapped off in the drop device 271, 27 r and continues through the fiber 75 to the connector 77 and therefrom to the respective optical client portion 11.

The physical layout of the interior of an add/drop module house 41 is shown in FIG. 3. The module house 41 comprises a substantially flat portion from which various walls stand out. The walls all have the same height and connect to a basically flat lid, not shown, which is mounted over the house 41. The walls form two circular winding cores 81 having a sufficiently large diameter, e.g. about 50 mm, allowing that fibers can be wound around them and not being subjected to too small bending radii (too large curvatures). The two winding cores 81 are placed at some distance of each other allowing that fibers can pass therebetween. By arranging two such cores the fiber pieces used can be allowed to have some extra length allowing them to be comfortably handled and to again be spliced to the devices in the case of fiber breaks or bad splices and also, the direction of the fiber pieces at the places where they are connected to the devices can be selected to be the proper one not using too small bends, by placing the fibers for instance in a configuration similar to the figure eight around the two cores 81. Inside the walls forming the winding cores through-holes 83 may be arranged for an easy handling of the module house. The add devices 251, 25 r and the drop devices 271, 27 r can be attached between outstanding walls 85 at the top of the house.

At the lower edge of the house 41 devices are provided for attaching the house to a rack, the attaching devices comprising a notch 87 at the rear side and a snap device 89 at the front side. A channel 91 is formed at the front top side of the house 41 to allow fibers connecting the module to the associated optical client portion to be held therein.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the add/drop modules 231, 23 r and the monitor modules 311, 31 r mounted in a rack, the loosely extending fiber pieces 45, 65 not being visible in this figure. By comparing FIG. 4 to FIG. 1 it is seen that the connection of all left add/drop modules 231 is as indicated in FIG. 3, the extending fiber pieces 45 being inserted in the mating connectors 53, 73 in the adjacent module at the left side of the respective module. This connection is illustrated in the schematic view of FIG. 6, see also FIG. 5. Thus, in FIG. 5 the same basic connection as in FIG. 1 is illustrated, where, in the right modules 23 r the add devices and the drop devices have changed places with each other. Then a cross coupling must be made between the group of left modules 231 and the group of right modules 23 r and between the right group and the right monitor module 31 r as compared to the straight schematic connection of modules shown in FIG. 1. The same connection of the modules is illustrated in FIG. 6 in which the connections between the add/drop modules using loosely extending fiber pieces is shown. From this figure it appears clearly that all add/drop modules 231, 23 r can have an identical construction, only the tapping-off devices and filters being special to the channel for which the respective module is designed. The cross coupling is made in the middle of the assembly of add/drop modules, between the left and right modules. Such a cross connection can be made by connecting the loose fiber pieces 101 having optical connectors at each end in a cross configuration or a particular cross connecting module can be used. Such a module has the same exterior design as the other modules but has inside just the optical fibers connected cross-wise. In FIG. 4 a multitude of add/drop modules 231, 23 r are illustrated. However, only a portion of the add/drop modules may be active ones, constructed as described above. At the side of the active modules dummy modules are inserted having the same exterior layout but without the connectors and the loosely extending fibers. The dummy modules are used for just filling up the space between the active modules and the monitor modules.

The two monitor modules 311, 31 r both have the same exterior connectors and interior devices as each other but have not the same interior connection lines. The necessary connections appear clearly from FIG. 1.

The client nodes 3 in the network have the same basic design as the hub node 2 but are designed to receive and transmit in only one wavelength band. The same kind of add/drop modules as described above can for example be used.

In other network ring architectures the client nodes can receive and transmit in more than one wavelength band. Then the client nodes can have the same structure as the hub node 2. 

1. (canceled)
 2. An add/drop node to be connected in an optical WDM-network, the network including two optical fiber paths for letting light of a plurality of channels propagate in opposite directions in the network, characterized by two add/drop modules for each of the channels, each add/drop module comprising an add device for adding light to a first one of the two optical fiber paths and a drop device for deflecting a portion of light from a second one of the two optical fiber paths different from the first one and all add/drop modules having the same construction, and in that the add/drop modules are arranged in two sets, the add/drop modules of a first one of the two sets having their add devices connected in the first one of the two optical fiber paths and their drop devices connected in the second one of the two optical fiber paths and the add/drop modules of a second one of the two sets different from the first one having their add devices connected in the second one of the two optical fiber paths and their drop devices connected in the first one of the two optical fiber paths.
 3. An add/drop node according to claim 2, characterized in that in each of the two sets the add/drop modules are placed at the sides of each other, and that for two adjacent add/drop modules an output of the add device in a first one of the two adjacent add/drop modules is connected to an input of the add device in a second one of the two adjacent add/drop modules.
 4. An add/drop node according to claim 2, characterized in that in each of the two sets the add/drop modules are placed at the sides of each other, and that for two adjacent add/drop modules an output of the drop device in a first one of the two adjacent add/drop modules is connected to an input of the drop device in a second one of the two adjacent add/drop modules.
 5. An add/drop node according to claim 2, characterized in that in each of the two sets the add/drop modules are placed at the sides of each other to form inner add/drop modules and two end add/drop modules in each set, the end add/drop modules having an add/drop module of the set on only one side, and that for one of the two end add/drop modules of a first one of the two sets its drop device has an output connected to an input of the add device of one of the two end add/drop modules in a second one of the two sets and that for said one of the two end add/drop modules of the second one of the two sets its drop device has an output connected to an input of the add device of said one of the two end add/drop modules in the first one of the two sets.
 6. An add/drop node according to claim 2, characterized in that each add/drop module comprises a housing enclosing the add device and the drop device of the add/drop module, a first fixed connector attached to the housing for connection in the first one of the two optical fiber paths and a first optical fiber extending freely from the housing and having a first free connector at its free end to be attached to the fixed connector of a neighboring add/drop module for continuing the first path through the considered add/drop module to the neighboring module, and a second fixed connector attached to the housing for connection in the second one of the two optical fiber paths and a second optical fiber extending freely from the housing and having a second free connector at its free end to be attached to the fixed second connector of a neighboring add/drop module for continuing the second path through the considered add/drop module to the neighboring module.
 7. An add/drop node according to claim 6, characterized in that the house includes two winding cores around which excessive fiber lengths connecting devices and connectors of the add/drop module can be wound.
 8. (canceled)
 9. An add/drop node according to claim 3, characterized in that in each of the two sets the add/drop modules are placed at the sides of each other to form inner add/drop modules and two end add/drop modules in each set, the end add/drop modules having an add/drop module of the set on only one side, and that for one of the two end add/drop modules of a first one of the two sets its drop device has an output connected to an input of the add device of one of the two end add/drop modules in a second one of the two sets and that for said one of the two end add/drop modules of the second one of the two sets its drop device has an output connected to an input of the add device of said one of the two end add/drop modules in the first one of the two sets.
 10. An add/drop node according to claim 4, characterized in that in each of the two sets the add/drop modules are placed at the sides of each other to form inner add/drop modules and two end add/drop modules in each set, the end add/drop modules having an add/drop module of the set on only one side, and that for one of the two end add/drop modules of a first one of the two sets its drop device has an output connected to an input of the add device of one of the two end add/drop modules in a second one of the two sets and that for said one of the two end add/drop modules of the second one of the two sets its drop device has an output connected to an input of the add device of said one of the two end add/drop modules in the first one of the two sets.
 11. (canceled)
 12. An add/drop node according to claim 3, characterized in that each add/drop module comprises a housing enclosing the add device and the drop device of the add/drop module, a first fixed connector attached to the housing for connection in the first one of the two optical fiber paths and a first optical fiber extending freely from the housing and having a first free connector at its free end to be attached to the fixed connector of a neighboring add/drop module for continuing the first path through the considered add/drop module to the neighboring module, and a second fixed connector attached to the housing for connection in the second one of the two optical fiber paths and a second optical fiber extending freely from the housing and having a second free connector at its free end to be attached to the fixed second connector of a neighboring add/drop module for continuing the second path through the considered add/drop module to the neighboring module.
 13. An add/drop node according to claim 4, characterized in that each add/drop module comprises a housing enclosing the add device and the drop device of the add/drop module, a first fixed connector attached to the housing for connection in the first one of the two optical fiber paths and a first optical fiber extending freely from the housing and having a first free connector at its free end to be attached to the fixed connector of a neighboring add/drop module for containing the first path through the considered add/drop module to the neighboring module, and a second fixed connector attached to the housing for connection in the second one of the two optical fiber paths and a second optical fiber extending freely from the housing and having a second free connector at its free end to be attached to the fixed second connector of a neighboring add/drop module for continuing the second path through the considered add/drop module to the neighboring module.
 14. An add/drop node according to claim 5, characterized in that each add/drop module comprises a housing enclosing the add device and the drop device of the add/drop module, a first fixed connector attached to the housing for connection in the first one of the two optical fiber paths and a first optical fiber extending freely from the housing and having a first free connector at its free end to be attached to the fixed connector of a neighboring add/drop module for continuing the first path through the considered add/drop module to the neighboring module, and a second fixed connector attached to the housing for connection in the second one of the two optical fiber paths and a second optical fiber extending freely from the housing and having a second free connector at its free end to be attached to the fixed second connector of a neighboring add/drop module for continuing the second path through the considered add/drop module to the neighboring module.
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